Photographic print treating method and apparatus



Juli s', 1932. G, M DYE 1,865,682

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATNG METHOD AND APPARATUS July 5, 1932n G. LM. DYE 1,865,682

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATING METHOD AND APPARATUS July 5, 1932. G, M DYE 1,865,682

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATING METHOD AND APARATUS Filed Jan. 2l. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 5, 1932` GLENM. DYE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT TREATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Application led January 21, 1929. Serial No. 333,823.

This invention relates to a device for handling photographic prints and particularly toadevice for moving short cut prints or films progressively through different receptacles containing print treatingv solutions. After the prints are printed and passed throu h kthe develo ing solution they are trans erred to the xing bath. Frequently the prints after leaving the developing solul.\ tion are first treated with a short-stop solution inorder to arrest any further develop.- ment. It is desirable to have an automatic `mechanism which will convey the print through the fixing and washing liquids. Such ay conveyor must travel in a sinuous path and the print or film must be very lightly, engaged sothat-thex emulsion side thereof'will not be scratched or otherwise marredg Itis also'necessaryA that the print or film beso` engaged that the treating solution Will have accessto all portions of the emulsion side thereof, elsel there would be portions of the emulsion surface which would not be properly fixedand washed and this would make a flaw in the final picture.

It is an object of thisinvention, therefore,

to'provide a simple and efficient print handling apparatus comprising conveying means which 'will enga-ge and progressthe prints through a sinuous path without damaging the same and atlthe Same time permit theliquid to act on allportions of said print. 1 It is anotherobject of the invention to provide a. print or film handling-apparatus comf5 prising a 'conveyinglmeans having opposed means traveling therewith'between which the yprints or films are engaged at spaced points, said means shiftingfas the conveying means travelsthrough a sinuous path so that the print is engagedfat different points during its travel. y l l n y It is still another object ofthe invention to provide a print handling device comprising a conveying means havinga pair of link conveyors with oppositely disposedv members swingable withsaid links and having means for engaging said prints at opposite sides and atdifferent points duringthe travel of said conveyorsthrougha sinuous path.

5 It is still anotherobject of the invention vide an improved method'of` handling prints 60 or films by means of `which they are progressed through different print treating liquids and effectively acted upon thereby.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the 65 following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings,v in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 isa central verticalsection through 70 the apparatus; y

n Fig. 2 is a plan view of the receptacles and a portion of the apparatus with the convey ing means removed; y y

Fig. 3 is a partialvertical section similar 75 to Fig. 1 but shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through one of the receptacles showing one of the conveying elements therein;y

Fig.` 5 is a partial view in side elevation of 80 the conveying means;

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of the conveying means;

Fig. 7 isa perspective View of one of the 85 conveying elements, and

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical sectionsimilar to Fig. 3 but shown'on an enlarged scale.

. Referring to the drawings,`an apparatus is shown comprising a frame'lO which supports a casing or receptacle 11. A plurality 9 of receptacles or tanksv13, 14, 15 and 16 are disposed side by side within casing 11. While tanks 13,14, 15 and-16 may be of various shapes, in the embodiment lof the invention illustrated kthey are shown as ofelongated 95 rectangular shape in horizontal cross section and as having semi-cylindrical bottoms with projecting flanges 13a, 14a, 15a and 16a.y at

their bottom sides. Pairs of Vrods 17 extend 100 Vbetween the Sides of' casing 'llandr are disposed respectively in the angles between said flanges and the curved bottoms of said tanks, said rods thus supporting said tanks. A trough 1S is disposed some distance above the outer side of tank 16 and is connected by a pair of conduits 19 to the upper end of tank 15. A frame 20 extends over the top of tanks 13 to 16 and has plates 20a depending therefrom and centrally disposed in tanks 13 to 16 respectively, said plates extending from one end of each tank to the other and having end flanges 20?) thereon fitting against the ends of said tanks. Plates 20o:- extend down in said tanks to a po-int closely adjacent the bottoms thereof and form partitions dividing` each tank into two compartments which are connected only below said partitions. The flanges 202) at the ends of the plates '20a eX- tend from the top of each tank to a point adjacent the bottom thereof, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. Each of these iianges has a groove 20c therein extending vertically at each side thereof and having a semi-circular curved portion extending about the bottoms of the partitions 20a. The grooves 2Go form guiding means for conveyor elements, to be later described. A plurality of horizontal Shafts 21 are journaled in suitable bearings on the sides of casing 11 and similar hori` zontal shafts 22 are journaled in bearings carried on frame 20, said shafts being disposed substantially in a horizontal plane. A similar pair of horizontal shafts 23 are'journaled in bearings supported on frame 20 above the shafts 22. Sprocket wheels 24 are secured to shafts 23 adjacent each end of the, same and similar sprocket wheels 24 are secured to certain of the shafts 2.1, namely the pair shown at the left hand side of Fig. 1 and the lower pair shown at the right hand side of F ig. 1. Sprocket wheels 25 somewhat similar to sprocket wheels 24 but having twice the number of grooves therein are secured to the remainder of shafts 21 and to shafts 22, each shaft having' sprocket wheels at its ends respectively.

A conveying means is provided comprising cooperating pairs or cooperating sets of conveyors. These conveyors will be designated A and B respectively. The conveyors A and B are similar in construction, but are oppositely disposed. Each conveyor comprises a plurality of links 26. These links are aligned in pairs at each side of the conveyor and the links o'f each pair are connected at one end by a bar 26a and each of said links has projecting outward therefrom a sprocketengaging pin 26?). The links 26 are curved so as to be substantially of crescent shape and each has at its free end a rounded head having a slot 26o therein having an openend directed toward the other en-d of the link, said slot having a semi-cylindrical bottom. The diameter of slot 26e is substantially the same as the sprocket pin 265. Bar 26a has secured thereto at spaced points a plurality of meinbers 266K said members having one side or surface 26e formed on a convex curve and having projecting therefrom spaced comparatively small rounded portions 267. The curve of surface 26e is not concentric with the axes of pins 26?), nor is said surface the arc of a circle.'

lVhile said surface might be variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated and in one form used in practice, said surface is made with a radius equal to the pitch radius of the sprocket. wheels 24 and 25, the centers used for the curves at each end of member 26e being offset the distance between the centers of the sprocket pin grooves in the sprockets 25. The shaft 23 at the right, as shown in Fig. 1 and the shaft 21 at/the upper right hand corner of Fig. 1 are each provided with a plurality of toothed wheels 27 spaced lengthwise thereof. Shafts 21 have small sprocket wheels 28 at one end thereof outside of casing 11 and shafts 22 have similar sprocket wheels 29 at one end outside of casing 11 aligned with the sprocket wheels 28. An idler sprocket 3() is carried on a stub shaft supported in frame 20 adjacent shaft 21 which is disposed below trough 13. A sprocket chain 31 runs over sprockets 28. said chain ruiming over idler sprocket between the sprockets on shafts 21 below trough 18 and the sprocket 25 disposed over tanks 16 and 15, said chain as shown in Fig. 1 running over the sprocket on shaft 21 at the upper right hand side of Fig. 1 and thence upward over lthe sprockets 29 on the shafts 22. Shafts 23 have sprockets 32 at their ends at one side of casing 11 and a chain 33 runs over these sprockets. Shaft 23 shown at the left of Fig. 1 also has a sprocket 35 thereon outside of the sprocket 32 and shaft 22 shown at the left of Fig. 1 has a sprocket 36 at its end outside of its sprocket 29, sprockets 35 and 36 being aligned. A chain 37 runs over sprocket 36 and around the bottom of sprocket 35 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this chain 37 extending to a driving sprocket not .shown to which power will be applied. The various sprocket wheels 24 and 25, it will be seen, will be thus driven by chains 31 and 33.

A water supply pipe 38 shown `disposed above tank 1-{1- at the rght hand side of its partition 20a is adapted to deliver water to said tank as indicated by the arrow immediately below the same. An endless conveyor 39 has its end disposed below sprocket 24 shown at the ripper' ,right hand corner of Fig. 1, the same moving as indicated by the arrow adjacent thereto.

The conveyors A and B are assembled by engaging the slots 26o over the adjacent pins 265. As shown in Fig. 6, the links 26 are off-set at their ends so that when the free end engages over pin 265 the ends of adjacent links will be in Contact at their edges.

Leonesa `in'F-ig. 1, then over sprocket 25 shown as adjacent the bottom of trough 18, vsaid 'conveyor then moving downwardly into tank or receptacle 16. When the conveyor moves into said receptacle, links 26 travel in grooves 20c ask shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the conveyor is guided by said grooves which are in the plates or flanges 206.Y Conveyor A passes down around the partition a in tank 16, upward out of said tankand over sprocket on shaft 22 farthest to theleft as shown in Fig. ,1, over said sprocket and then down into tank 15, around the bottom of partition-20a therein, upward over sprocket 25 Awhich is second from the left as shown in Fig. 1, then down into tank 14, around partition ,20a therein and upward overfsprocket 25 which is third from the left in Fig. 1, tlienfdownward into tank 13 and around the bottom of partition 20a therein, then upwardly ont of `tank 13 and over sprocket 25 which` is on shaft 22 farthest tothe right in Fig. 1, then downwardly in an inclineddireotion, over sprocket 24 farthest to the right in Fig. 1' and then over sprocket 24 at the right of tank 14, downwardlyin casing 11 and over sprocket 24 at theright hand bottom corner thereof and thence horizontallyto sprocket 24 at the left bottom corner of casing 11. Con! veyor B which, it will be observed in Figs. A1,

` 3 and 5, is disposed oppositely to conveyor A passes downwardly from sprocket 24 which is on shaft 23 at thefleft of Fig.,` 1 and engages with sprocket 25 disposed belowtrough 18. It will be seen that the pins26d lon' the conveyor B engage with the grooves in sprockets 25 which` are between the grooves engaged by the. pins 26d on conveyor' A.y The ends of the links on one ofthe conveyors A and B thus are disposed in Athespace at the con- `rcave side ofthe links onthe other conveyor'.

After conveyorr B leaves sprocket 25 at the top of tank 16, it also moves downward into said tank, its pins 265 moving into' and guided by grooves 260.- f This conveyor B then follows the same course through'tanks 16, 15,

'14 and 13 as already traced for the conveyor A, said conve or B passing over the sprockets 25 on shafsts 22 with conveyor A. When conveyor Bv leaves sprocket wheel 25 on'the upper right hand shaft 22 it moves upward and runs over sprocket wheel 24 on the shaft 23 at the right of-Fig'. 1 and passes horizontally to the left in Fig. 1 and over sprocket wheel 24 on the left hand shaft y23 and 'again downwardly to sprocketwheel 25 and into tank 16. The travel of the conveyors A 'and B and the rotationof the various sprocket wheels 24 and 25 are indicated by thearrows inFig.1. .j j n In the operation of the apparatus and the Ythus be swung to different positions.

carrying out of the method of the inventionv the prints are taken from the developing solution and laid upon the conveyor A at the portion indicated by the arrow 40, whichv is between the shafts 21 at the upper left hand end of casing 11, this portion of the conveyor traveling upwardly toward the sprocket 21 below trough 18, the conveyor A traveling as already described. Water is supplied through conduit 38 and fills the tank 14, this water overflowing at the upper left hand portion of tank 14 as shown in Fig. 1 and passing into tanks15. yThe water'leaves the upper left hand portion of tank 15 as shown in Fig. 1 and passes through the conduits 19 into trough 18 and overflows at the outside of said trough as indicated by the arrows adjacent the same, said water flowingdown onto the prints on conveyor A as they move upwardly toward sprocket 25 above the left hand upper edge oftank 16. A glazing or ferro-typingliquid-'may be placed in the tank 13. The prints 41 are thus first acted on by the liquid issuing from trough 18 and are then engaged by the portions 26f on the members 26d of the conveyors A and B and moved down into tank 16. The disposition of the members 26 when the conveyors are moving in a straight linev is vshown in Figs. 5 and 8. The points or portions 26f are so disposed that they can reach a line or plane passing through the center of the pins y26?) or they -the respective conveyors A and B do not come into` alignment. The center projections 267c are disposed a distance apart longitudinally of the conveyors, substantially the distance between adjacent pins 2Gb as shown in Fig. 5.l A print 41 is shown in Fig. 5 and it will be seen that it will be engaged at one side by the central projections or points 26]c and at the other side by the Vcentral projections or points 267 of members 26d. The prints or films will be slightly bent into reverse curves by the projections 26f and will be carried along thereby. The prints will move downwardly in a straight line at the left hand side of tank 16 and will then be carried tition` 20a therein. As the links of conveyors .A and B swing around the bottoni of said tanks, being guided by grooves 20c, they will oscillate to different relative positions about the axes of pins 267) and members 26d will The prints 41 will be engaged by different projections 267", but will still be bent to a greater degree and'held betweensaid projections as shown in Fig.8'.' ,The centralv projections rock about the centers of' pins 26?) and the to the treating liquid.

points on the print which'were engaged as it moved downward in a straight line are thus uncovered and the points at which it was contacted on the emulsion side are now uncovered so that they will be open to the action of the liquid in tank 16. The projections 26]" being somewhat pointed or rounded at their ends, engage a very small part of the emulsion side of the film and the same can be acted on practically over its entire snrface even when engaged. However, the shifting of the points of engagement and the making of new points of engagement insures that all parts of the print will be accessible As the conveyors pass upward at the right hand side of tank 16 the points of engagement are again shifted and the print carried upward and over the sprockets 25 above tanks 16 and 15. The links 26 swingon their pivot pins 262) as the conveyors pass over the sprocket, but the prints are still engaged by the points 26]C and pass downward into tank 15, around the bottom thereof and upward, as already described in connection with tank 16. The print then passes up out of tank and over the sprocket 25 above tanks 15 and 14 and passes downwardly into tank 14 and through the same as described .in connection with tank 16. It will be seen that the water delivered by conduit 33 passes into the right hand side of tank 14 and must then pass downward around the partition ay and upward at the left hand side thereof to be discharged into the right hand side of tank 15. rfhe water must then pass downward around the partition 20a in tank 15 before it can pass upwardly and 'flow out of conduits 19.

The freshest water is therefore brought into contact with the prints most nearly through the washing liquid. The water passing out of tank 15 will have a little fixing solution therein and this passing onto the prints '-11 on the portion 40 of the' conveyor from trough 1S acts as a short-stop solution for said prints. The prints are often run through a glazing machine which puts a high gloss thereon. A solution is sometimes used for this process and such a solution can be placed in the tank 13 so that after the prints leave said tank they are allr ready to be placed in the glazing machine.

As the prints are carried up out of the tank 13 they will usually stay on conveyor A and pass downwardly on said conveyor over the sprocket 24 at the rightof Fig. 1 and will drop onto the conveyor 39. Should any of the prints tend to stick to the members 26d, they will be pushed therefrom by the points or teeth on the. wheels 27. Also should any of the prints adhere to conveyor B and tend to pass up over sprocket wheel on the right hand shaft- 23 as shown on Fig. 1 they will also be pushed off by the teeth on the wheels 27 on shaft 23 and will fall down onto theconveyor A and be delivered to conveyor 39. The members 26d of course are spaced so that the distance between the same is much less than the width of the print and the length of the print is of course greater than the distance between pins 261) so that it will be assured that the print will always be properly engaged. The members 26d could, if desired, be made in rights and lefts, the rights and lefts being disposed respectively on conveyors A and B so that said members would then be disposed parallel to each other on the respective conveyors instead of being at an angle to each other as shown in Fig. 6.

By uncoupling the links at portion 40 of the conveyors A and B and at the portion between sprockets 25 on the right hand shafts 21 and 22 as shown in Fig. 1, frame 20 can be lifted, and shafts 21 and 22 supported thereon, together with shafts 23 may be lifted bodily from the tanks 13 to 16. By so removing the conveyor it can be inspected or repaired and the tanks cleaned.

The casing 11 will receive the water discharged from trough 18 and will receive any drippings from the conveyors A and B after leaving tank 13 and moving thereover. The water is discharged from casing 11 through the outlet at the bottom thereof.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple, enicient and automatic apparatus and a simple and eiiicient method for handling photographic sheets and progressing them successively through different receptacles containing treating liquids. The prints are uniformly progressed, but are engaged very lightly at spaced points and these points are ychanged so that the entire sensitized surface of the sheet is accessible to the treating liquid. The sheets are thoroughly treated after passing through the machine and the time of treatment is governed by the speed of the conveyors A and B. The prints are treated in iov the various iiuids without being touched by the hands of the operator and the action of the apparatus is thus entirely automatic. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efficient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the apparatus and in the steps and sequence of steps of the method, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a method and apparatus capable of carryingout the objects above set forth, such as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for handling sensitized photographic sheets having `in combination, a conveyor constrained to follow a. sinuous course and comprising cooperating oppositely disrzo . ose-doscillatingunconnected members having 'sheet-engaging portions constructed and 'spaced points andvprogressthesame. f 2. LA, device, fori/handling, sensitized hotographic., sheetshaving in combinatiojma pair of cooperatingmoving conveyors one of gaging membershaving print-,engaging portions for engaging theprintsat spaced points in cooperation with the other conveyor for path. .1. ,f

V3'. vA device for handling sensitized photographjiosheets having in combination, a pair connected oscillatbl' .Carrying spaced sheet-engaging rmembers oppositely disposed onsaid respective conveyors and adapted to site sides thereof as said conveyors move `throughstraightandcurved'paths. A u 4. A device; forfhandlingsensitized photoarranged to engage a sheet therebetween` at which comprises oscillating spaced print-enmoving the'same through a' straight or vcurved of Icooperating movable conveyors comprising engage. thet prints latspaced points at oppographicsheets having .in combination', a` pair of conveyors adapted :toA move overl sprocket y y .graphic sheets having in combination, a pair `wheels and be. lguided in rectilinear gguvides, {said cfonveyors carrying spaced sheet-engagfing, members,said L,members being alternately idisposedonthe respective conveyors and havingjsheet-engaging portions which are out of ,alignment on the yrespective conveyors, said sheet-,engaging i pOrtiQnS. 3 @Xtending isubstan- Ytially yto .n a, plane 'disposed centrally between ,said conveyorswhereby ajslieetjy may beffengagedatopposite sidesr` by said portions and Slightly bent therebytfpwgress Said Sheet.; f" 5,'y device forxhandling sensitized Phot@- i, graphic sheets lhaviung ,ink combination, ay pair `ofcooperating movable conveyor-Seach com- .prising conneeted-k jand. n relatively, swinging links, said links carrying a plurality of spaced A,print'-engagin .members n swingable thereevvilth,--dispose ilralternate relation: in: the travel -oify ,said conveyors, and having printengaging. portions extendingsubstantially to the central lplane y.between *sa-idv conveyors to engagegagsheet at spaced.pointsl at opposite sidesthereoflandprogress the saine'. n

device forghandling sensitized photographic sheets having'in combination, a pair effeoapratifng Q'Qevyor',eestreined, ,te follow al sin'iious course, each A'having' cooperatingsets ofkoscillating members, said members 'each having a plurality 'of spaced Iprint-engagin g yportionsl whichl are ,out of alignment on the'r respective?. lcon'vciyors and which are 'disposed at opposite sides of and lterminate substantially inifa planey mid-way between @said i conveyors. whereby a sheety `will `be en- :gaged :between said portions. and at lspaced Ipo-ints'at opposite sides thereof and prorgiessed.withsaiilnconveyors.f

1Adev'ceifor-hand-1'i1rg sensltize.. phat- 3.- graphic sheetahavinaill cembinaton, a* pa-f ifL @Operaties:conversie Comprising stantially mid-way between said conveyors whereby a print is engaged at opposite sides ybysaid portions atspaced non-aligned points and progressedthereby.

, 8. A device -for handlingsensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a pair Aof conveyors constrained to move in a sinu- ,ous course and each comprising swinging members disposed in opposite relation to each o tlieryon the respective conveyors and each havingy spacedsheet-engaging projections arranged in a curvesai d proJections assaid membersswing moving substantially into a .planer disposed centrally between said conveyors Wherebyja. print may be engaged at `spaced points at opposite sides thereof by said portions andheld-and progressed thereby.

9. A device for handling sensitized photoof conveyors, oneiof which comprises swing- `ing links and having a plurality of spaced lmembers carried thereby, said members each having a plurality of spaced print-engaging portions disposed in a convex curve swingable about the aXis of said links, saidlportions terspaced points bysaid portions, incoopera- Vtion with the other conveyor andprogressed .by said portions.

10; A device for handling sensitized photographicsheets having in combination, a pair .ofr cooperating conveyors each comprising ,.passpsaid llinks ysupporting forl swinging movementjtherewith spaced members each havingr a'plurality of print-engaging portions .thereon disposed in' a ,curve andiadapted to vterminate Asubstantially ina plane passing through the axes about fwhich said links -swingsaid po'rtionsfbeing arranged in alternate relation in the movement of said conveyors and engaginga print atspaced points at opposite sides thereof, said members swingring asthe conveyors travel about said sprock- 4,ets to bring other of said portions into engagement with saidk sheets.

111. A device for handling sensitized photogrpahicsheets having in combination, means constrained to. move through straight and curved paths and having spaced members constructed and arranged to swing as said means travel said curved paths, said members having sheet-engaginglportions some ofk which engage s aidsheets when said means is travel- `minating, substantiallyjn ai plane lmid-way .between said conveyors' as said members ,swing Wherebyaprintwill be engagedat ing said straight path and others of which engage said sheets when said means is traveling said curved path whereby all parts of said sheets will be exposed to a liquid through which it travels.

12. A device for handling sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, conveyors constrained to move in straight and curved paths, each having swinging means comprising members with sheet-engaging portions adapted to swing during the travel of said conveyor through said curved paths, said members being so disposed that a sheet is held therebetween and progressed by engagement therewith of certain of said portions, said sheet being disengaged by said certain portions and engaged by other portions as said members swing when said conveyors travel said curved paths.

13. A device for handling sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a plurality of tanks arranged adjacent each other, a frame disposed above said tanks and having partitions depending therefrom extending into saidtanks for dividing the same into compartments and a conveying means including sprockets on said frame and pivotally connected links movable successively through said tanks and below said partitions, said frame and partitions with said sprockets being removable from said tanks by disconnecting certain of said links.

14. A device for handling sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a plurality of tanks arranged adjacent each other, a frame disposed above said tanks and having partitions depending therefrom extending into said tanks for dividing the same into compartments, sprockets carried by saidframe, and a conveyor running over said sprockets and through said tanks beneath said partition, said frame being removable upwardly from said4 tanks with said sprockets and the portion of said conveyor carried thereby.

15. A device for handling sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a casing, a plurality of tanks disposed adjacent each other in said casing, a plurality of sprocket wheels carried in said casing, a frame disposed above said tanks yand having plates depending therefrom into said tanks respectively forming partitions dividing said tanks into compartments, sprocket wheels carried by said frame, a conveyor movable over the sprockets in said casing4 and said last mentioned sprockets, said frame being movable upwardly from said tanks with said partitions and sprocket wheels carried by said frame, with the portion of the conveyor carried by said last mentioned sprocket wheels.

16. A device for handling sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, a plurality of tanks disposed adjacent each other, a frame disposed above said tanks havging plates depending therefrom `into said tanks from end tovend thereof and dividing said tanks respectively into compartments, a Aconveyor movable through said vcompartments and beneath the partitions in said tanks, said partitions having means rat the ends of said tanks forming guiding means for said conveyor.

17. A method of handling sensitized photograpliic sheets which consists in engaging the same at spaced points at one side and at a localized point intermediate said points at the other side, bending said sheets by such engagement and moving the same in'straight andcurved paths through treating liquids,

l disengaging the prints at the points first engaged when moving through said curved paths, engaging the sheets at other points and continuing the motion through said liquids c whereby all parts of said sheets are accessible to said liquids.

18. A method of handling sensitized photographic sheets which consists in engaging said sheets at one or more points at the emulsion sides thereof and moving the same through treating solutions while so engaged, disengaging the sheets at said points during said motion and engaging them at other spaced points whereby all portions of said v. sheets are made accessible to said solutions.

19.y A method of handling sensitized photographic sheets which consists in engaging the sensitized sides of said sheets at one or more points vand progressing the same through treating liquids, in straight and curved paths, disengaging the sheets at said points as they are moved through the curved path and engaging them at other points whereby all portions of said sensitized sides of said sheets are accessible to said treating liquids.

20. A method of handling sensitized photographic sheets which consists in engaging the same at spaced points at opposite sides thereof and moving the same through treating liquids in straight and curved paths, ydisengaging said sheets at said points as the same are carried in said curved paths and engaging the same at other points to con- -l tinue the motion thereof whereby all parts of said sheets may be accessible to said liquids.

21. `A device for handling sensitized photographic sheets having in combination, al

iso

projections on adjacent oppositely facing members.

22. In a device of the class described, a conveyor comprising a member having an arcuate surface With spaced projections extending therefrom adapted to engage a print.

23. In a device of the class described, a conveyor having members thereon each having an arcuate surface with projections extending therefrom, said projections on said respective members cooperating to hold a print therebetween.

24. In a device of the class described, a conveyor including a bar with spaced members thereon each having arcuate surfaces with projections extending therefrom to engage a print.

25. A structure set forth in claim 24, said bar having curved arms at its ends each formed adjacent one end as a hook adapted to receive a pivot member. j

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

GLEN M. DYE. 

